Monday, 23 July 2018

ARC REVIEW : Risk Taker (Mixed Messages #3) by Lily Morton

Being in love with your best friend is hard.

Henry’s
the odd man out. All his friends are settling down, and his reputation
as the Hook-Up King of London seems more like a curse than a blessing
these days. Especially when it keeps photojournalist Ivo, his best
friend and the brilliant man he’s loved since they were fifteen, at
arm’s length. But that’s where Ivo wants him, right? Putting aside his
feelings, Henry decides to give up casual sex and look for the real
deal. After all, he has no chance with Ivo - or does he?

Henry
is everything to Ivo. Best friend, soul mate, the one person who has
never let him down. The one person he is loyal to above everything and
everyone. But Henry’s in a box marked best friend and that’s where Ivo’s
kept him for nearly twenty years, despite steadily falling in love with
the gentle man. And besides, why would Henry want to date Ivo? Burned
out and injured, he’s the walking embodiment of damaged.

Distance
has helped Henry and Ivo keep a lid on their attraction, but when they
find themselves in the same city for a change—Ivo hurt and needing
assistance, and Henry more than willing to provide it—the two best
friends grow closer than ever, forcing a realization, and a decision.
Risk their friendship for their hearts? Or can they have both?

From
the bestselling author of Rule Breaker and Deal Maker comes a tender
love story about two best friends who are perfect for each other, and
always have been - if only they knew it.

This is the third book in the Mixed Messages series, but it can be read as a standalone.

"Love never really dies. It just goes underground and hides if you mistreat it" "

When I first started this, I was expecting many laughs like the first two books. Yes, I'd got laughs, some silly moments, but there's some more serious talk about what love should be.
This is a very slow burn, and I almost losing my patience for these two. They need communication skills, despite of Henry is a lawyer who supposed to talk a lot, he had a hard time to talk to the love of his life. For years. let me repeat. For years.

"No matter how far I got, I still came home.""To your house?""No, him. He's home.""

Ivo keep running away from home to prove to is late father that that's a life he wants, but he always coming home to Henry. And hated every time Henry with someone else. But, again, he didn't tell.
They're best friend for life since they're fifteen, and both were afraid it will change if they're together. How wrong was that?
Because it's obvious that Henry cannot live without Ivo, and Ivo cannot bare to live without knowing that Henry will wait for him. Henry is the only home he knew.

"It’s typical of my life that the one time I make a resolution to forget him, he turns around and gives me a hundred reasons to remember him."

While I adore the second book (because of Billy), I was a little bit irritated and wanted to dive into the book and give Henry and Ivo some of my words about how stupid and blind they were.
But, I'm glad after more than 90% mark, they talked! Finally talked!

“When I die, I’ll have your name on my lips, and my last thought will be of you.”"

There's a strong HEA between them and the other guys in the previous books, that made me so happy. Cannot wait for another books in this series. Or a new series? Either one is fine with me.
I enjoyed this book, mostly because it made me held my breath for so long, waiting for 'the moment' to come.
Side note : I loved the sex in public space they made, and not just once!